Florida Statute 90.607 - Full Text and Legal Analysis

The 2025 Florida Statutes

Title VII
EVIDENCE

Chapter 90
EVIDENCE CODE

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F.S. 90.607

90.607 Competency of certain persons as witnesses.—

(1)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), the judge presiding at the trial of an action is not competent to testify as a witness in that trial. An objection is not necessary to preserve the point.

(b) By agreement of the parties, the trial judge may give evidence on a purely formal matter to facilitate the trial of the action.

(2)(a) A member of the jury is not competent to testify as a witness in a trial when he or she is sitting as a juror. If the juror is called to testify, the opposing party shall be given an opportunity to object out of the presence of the jury.

(b) Upon an inquiry into the validity of a verdict or indictment, a juror is not competent to testify as to any matter which essentially inheres in the verdict or indictment.

History.—s. 1, ch. 76-237; s. 1, ch. 77-77; s. 22, ch. 78-361; s. 1, ch. 78-379; s. 487, ch. 95-147.

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Amendments to 90.607

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases Citing Statute 90.607

Total Results: 45

Green v. State

975 So. 2d 1090, 2008 WL 248413

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 31, 2008 | Docket: 1727327

Cited 57 times | Published

to matters that inhere to the verdict under section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (1987). Because this

Baptist Hosp. of Miami, Inc. v. Maler

579 So. 2d 97, 16 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 287, 1991 Fla. LEXIS 734, 1991 WL 66657

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: May 2, 1991 | Docket: 1432698

Cited 56 times | Published

mental processes, or mistaken beliefs of jurors. § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. Ann. (1987) (Law Revision Council

Johnson v. State

593 So. 2d 206, 1992 WL 164

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 2, 1992 | Docket: 446377

Cited 46 times | Published

109 S.Ct. 404, 102 L.Ed.2d 392 (1988); accord § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1985).[5] This rule has also

State v. Hamilton

574 So. 2d 124, 1991 WL 6542

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 17, 1991 | Docket: 1729756

Cited 45 times | Published

mental processes, or mistaken beliefs of jurors.[8] § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. Ann. (1987) (Law Revision Council

Sireci v. State

587 So. 2d 450, 1991 WL 183081

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Sep 19, 1991 | Docket: 373203

Cited 40 times | Published

mental processes, or mistaken beliefs of jurors. § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1989); State v. Hamilton, 574

Marshall v. State

854 So. 2d 1235, 2003 WL 21354775

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jun 12, 2003 | Docket: 2527422

Cited 38 times | Published

Hamilton, 574 So.2d 124, 128 (Fla.1991); see also § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1999).[5] However, jurors may

Reaves v. State

826 So. 2d 932, 2002 WL 1338424

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jun 20, 2002 | Docket: 1167696

Cited 36 times | Published

83, 83 S.Ct. 1194, 10 L.Ed.2d 215 (1963). [15] § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1999) ("Upon an inquiry into

Devoney v. State

717 So. 2d 501, 1998 WL 309069

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Aug 18, 1998 | Docket: 473435

Cited 31 times | Published

essentially inheres in the verdict or indictment." § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1993). Consistent with the

Wilding v. State

674 So. 2d 114, 1996 WL 266140

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: May 16, 1996 | Docket: 1195080

Cited 27 times | Published

for denying Wilding's motion for mistrial. See § 90.607(2)(b), Fla.Stat. (1993); Powell v. Allstate Insurance

Simpson v. State

3 So. 3d 1135, 34 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 199, 2009 Fla. LEXIS 236, 2009 WL 330946

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Feb 12, 2009 | Docket: 1652728

Cited 18 times | Published

verdict or indictment.'" 717 So.2d at 502 (quoting § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1993)). We conclude that the

Powell v. Allstate Ins. Co.

652 So. 2d 354, 1995 WL 16927

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 19, 1995 | Docket: 1365586

Cited 15 times | Published

mental processes, or mistaken beliefs of jurors. § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1993). In relevant part, this

Keen v. State

639 So. 2d 597, 1994 WL 164622

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: May 5, 1994 | Docket: 1712652

Cited 13 times | Published

article affected their decision-making process. See § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1987).[3] *600 In Hamilton

Songer v. State

463 So. 2d 229, 10 Fla. L. Weekly 100

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Jan 31, 1985 | Docket: 108156

Cited 11 times | Published

determined that it was not admissible under section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (1983), which provides:

Miles v. State

839 So. 2d 814, 2003 WL 728767

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 5, 2003 | Docket: 1296807

Cited 8 times | Published

essentially inheres in the verdict or indictment." § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1999). Consistent with the

Marshall v. State

976 So. 2d 1071, 2007 WL 4258618

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Dec 6, 2007 | Docket: 1680083

Cited 7 times | Published

testify about matters which inhere in the verdict. § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1999). Judicial inquiry into

Naugle v. Philip Morris USA, Inc.

133 So. 3d 1235, 2014 WL 1031486, 2014 Fla. App. LEXIS 3928

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 19, 2014 | Docket: 60238739

Cited 4 times | Published

regarding any matter which “inheres in the verdict.” § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (2013) (“Upon an inquiry into

State v. Goldwire

762 So. 2d 996, 2000 WL 864455

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 30, 2000 | Docket: 1690830

Cited 4 times | Published

"inheres in the verdict." Id. at 502 (quoting section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (1993)). The court

Wright v. CTL Distribution, Inc.

650 So. 2d 641, 1995 WL 44535

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Feb 1, 1995 | Docket: 1345687

Cited 3 times | Published

misconduct which inheres in the verdict. Thus, section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (1993), prohibiting

Gould v. State

745 So. 2d 354, 1999 WL 741112

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 17, 1999 | Docket: 1294677

Cited 2 times | Published

counsel to interview the jurors or a new trial. Section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (1997), states that

Carcasses v. Julien

616 So. 2d 486, 1993 WL 62230

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 9, 1993 | Docket: 1726689

Cited 2 times | Published

mental processes, or mistaken beliefs of jurors. § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. Ann. (1987) (Law Revision Council

Lenist Key v. State of Florida

179 So. 3d 513, 2015 Fla. App. LEXIS 17913, 2015 WL 7543753

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 25, 2015 | Docket: 3016003

Cited 1 times | Published

JJ., concur. 1 . Similarly, section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes, does not permit inquiry

Van Poyck v. State

91 So. 3d 125, 37 Fla. L. Weekly Supp. 125, 2012 WL 489231, 2012 Fla. LEXIS 337

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: Feb 16, 2012 | Docket: 60309804

Cited 1 times | Published

210 (Fla.1992). Codifying this principle, section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (2010), provides that

Aragon v. State

853 So. 2d 584, 2003 WL 22056015

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Sep 5, 2003 | Docket: 1189198

Cited 1 times | Published

verdict and relates to the jury's deliberations. § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (2001) ("Upon an inquiry into

Songer v. Wainwright

605 F. Supp. 686, 1985 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 22895

District Court, M.D. Florida | Filed: Feb 2, 1985 | Docket: 1452913

Cited 1 times | Published

led to a verdict. Fed.R.Evid. 606(b); Fla.Stat. § 90.607(2)(b) (1983). Thus petitioner was not and is not

Blue Water Coast Services, LLC and Jacqueline Hyatt v. Maize

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Apr 17, 2024 | Docket: 68443447

Published

(emphasis added) (citing § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1987)). Indeed, section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes

Lucious Boyd v. State of Florida

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: May 13, 2021 | Docket: 59903102

Published

mistaken beliefs.” Martin, slip op. at 21 (quoting § 90.607(2)(b) and then quoting Marshall v. State, 854

David James Martin v. State of Florida

Supreme Court of Florida | Filed: May 6, 2021 | Docket: 59885767

Published

questioning of the juror must be consistent with section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (2020), which provides:

Devin Lee Bass v. State of Florida

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 14, 2018 | Docket: 8409771

Published

97, 99 (Fla. 1991) (citation omitted); see also § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (2017). This includes inquiries

Dowd v. State

227 So. 3d 194, 2017 WL 2304663, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 7647

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 26, 2017 | Docket: 6066413

Published

see also Hamilton, 574 So.2d at 128 (citing section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (1987), of the Florida

Woodruff v. State

208 So. 3d 1265, 2017 WL 362550, 2017 Fla. App. LEXIS 719

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 25, 2017 | Docket: 4573203

Published

v. State, 527 So.2d 179 (Fla. 1988). See also § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (2015) (providing that “[ujpon

Philip Morris USA, Inc. v. James Naugle, as Personal Representative of the Estate of Lucinda Naugle

182 So. 3d 885, 2016 Fla. App. LEXIS 216, 2016 WL 90746

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 6, 2016 | Docket: 3026029

Published

579 So.2d 97, 99 (Fla.1991) (quoting § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. Ann. (1987) (Law Revision Council

Gadison v. State

158 So. 3d 615, 2013 WL 6687852, 2013 Fla. App. LEXIS 20099

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 20, 2013 | Docket: 60246262

Published

97, 99 (Fla.1991) (citing § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1987)). Section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (2013)

State v. Newman

104 So. 3d 1180, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 20881, 2012 WL 6028838

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Dec 5, 2012 | Docket: 60227353

Published

2d at 502; Hamilton, 574 So.2d at 128; see also § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (2009). We know from our record

Perez-Sovias v. State

95 So. 3d 327, 2012 WL 3023170, 2012 Fla. App. LEXIS 11968

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 25, 2012 | Docket: 60311186

Published

a criminal case nor competent to testify. See § 90.607(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (2012) (“Except as provided

McAllister v. State

874 So. 2d 1266, 2004 Fla. App. LEXIS 8312, 2004 WL 1283777

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 11, 2004 | Docket: 64831034

Published

State, 786 So.2d 1227 (Fla. 4th DCA 2001). Section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (2003), says specifically:

Myron ex rel. Brock v. Shulman

818 So. 2d 666, 2002 Fla. App. LEXIS 8262, 2002 WL 1285209

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 12, 2002 | Docket: 64815734

Published

essentially inheres in the verdict or indictment.” § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1999). Specifically, it would

Miles v. State

799 So. 2d 367, 2001 Fla. App. LEXIS 16034, 2001 WL 1414740

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 14, 2001 | Docket: 64810021

Published

essentially inheres in the verdict or indictment.” § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1999). Consistent with the

Miner v. McKesson Corp.

784 So. 2d 1156, 2001 Fla. App. LEXIS 2437, 2001 WL 220041

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Mar 7, 2001 | Docket: 64805313

Published

these matters cannot be used to impugn a verdict. § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1999); Devoney, 717 So.2d at

Short v. Abukhdeir

738 So. 2d 408, 1999 Fla. App. LEXIS 8547, 1999 WL 420645

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jun 25, 1999 | Docket: 64789759

Published

than 25% less than a prior offer of judgment. Section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (1995), forbids any

Short v. Abukhdeir

720 So. 2d 286, 1998 Fla. App. LEXIS 13875, 1998 WL 764111

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Nov 4, 1998 | Docket: 64784095

Published

than 25% less than a prior offer of judgment. Section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (1995), forbids any

Hatcher v. State

679 So. 2d 27, 1996 Fla. App. LEXIS 8405, 1996 WL 457234

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Aug 14, 1996 | Docket: 64767086

Published

unauthorized material on the verdict in light of section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes (1993), which provides

Travent, Ltd. v. Schecter

678 So. 2d 1345, 1996 Fla. App. LEXIS 7994, 21 Fla. L. Weekly Fed. D 1732

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jul 31, 1996 | Docket: 64767070

Published

processes, or mistaken beliefs of jurors, [f.o.] § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1987) (Law Revision Council

State v. Devoney

675 So. 2d 155, 1996 Fla. App. LEXIS 4584, 1996 WL 220558

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 3, 1996 | Docket: 64765239

Published

essentially inheres in the verdict or indictment.” § 90.607(2)(b), Fla. Stat. (1993). This rule forbids any

Marcelin v. Denny's Restaurant

648 So. 2d 834, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 81, 1995 WL 6403

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: Jan 10, 1995 | Docket: 64753451

Published

underlying the previously cited case law as well as section 90.607(l)(a), Florida Statutes (1989), which provides

Singletary ex rel. Barnett Banks Trust Co. v. Lewis

619 So. 2d 351, 1993 Fla. App. LEXIS 5669, 1993 WL 169165

District Court of Appeal of Florida | Filed: May 21, 1993 | Docket: 64696593

Published

v. Hamilton, 574 So.2d 124, 128 (Fla.1991), Section 90.607(2)(b), Florida Statutes, forbids absolutely